Post 20
White Oak
Quercus alba

Location

N39º28.919'
W088º24.776'

Date Planted

December 15, 2005

Special Note:
The White Oak is the state tree of Illinois, Maryland, and Connecticut. Its wood was used to build the famous ship, USS Constitution (also known as "Old Ironsides"). 

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This tree was donated and planted by the Don Higgins Family of Higgins Tree Farm in Gays, Illinois.

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Tree located at
Douglas-Hart Nature Center
Mattoon, Illinois

Tree Description

Tall tree with rounded crown formed of spreading stout branches;  straight trunk;  reaches a height of 80 to 100 feet with a diameter of 3 to 4 feet.

Habitat

Uplands and lowlands with dry, sandy soils;  often in pure stands. 

Range

From Maine to the foothills of the Rockies, south to eastern Texas, east to Georgia, north to southeastern Canada.

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Leaf Description

Leaves deciduous; simple; alternate; glossy, bright green above, paler gray-green or whitish below;  elliptical, 5 to 9 inches long and 2 to 4 inches wide, with 5 to 9 lobes. but usually 7;  widest beyond middle and tapered at base;  turning red or brown in fall.

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Bark Description

Gray;  fissured into blocks of scaly plates.

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Fruit Description

The flowers are clusters of drooping catkins and spikes of small blooms.  The fruit is a small, shiny, oblong acorn, 0.5 to 1 inch long;  nut is ovoid, light brown, shiny and about 3/4 of an inch long;  is held in  the shallow cup, singly or in groups of 2 or 3.

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